Xia Mian and the others immediately fell silent.

Xia Chuan came in through the curtains and said to Xia Mian awkwardly, "Mian Mian, I'm sorry. Don't take it to heart."

Ma Lili's expression wasn't as aloof anymore, but rather a touch of melancholy. "Xia Mian, I'm sorry. It's my fault for having such parents. I can't help it..."

Suddenly I had a sense of déjà vu of Lin Daiyu...

Xia Chuan also explained, "You all know Lily's situation. Now her parents are holding her marriage in check, and Lily has no choice but to obey them."

Xia Mian smiled and said, "It's okay. This really has nothing to do with Sister Lily."

"I'm so sorry," Ma Lili said helplessly. "God knows how much I want to get rid of them."

Xia Chuan immediately felt distressed, "It's okay, just wait until you marry me."

Ma Lili blushed slightly, and with a smirk, she hit Xia Chuan. "What are you talking about?"

Xia Chuan touched his head embarrassedly and chuckled.

Ma Lili sat down and said to Xia Mian, "Let me hide here for a while and have some peace and quiet."

Xia Chuan smiled and said, "You two will definitely get along. Mian Mian is a very good reader."

"Really?" Ma Lili smiled, and then her whole person became strange, as if she wanted to compare herself with Xia Mian.

After all, normal people often chat with each other, who would deliberately ask "Have you finished reading the Four Great Classics?"

"Which one do you like best?"

"I like Dream of the Red Chamber, and my favorite character is Lin Daiyu..."

Xia Mian thought to himself, I can see that she wants to learn the manners and speech, but it's a pity that she only learned the basics and didn't learn any of Lin Daiyu's inner character.

Seeing Li Fang and Hong Juan looking a little embarrassed, Xia Mian couldn't help but smile and said, "Yes, I like Lin Daiyu too. Her poem "Song of Burying Flowers" is so beautiful, 'Flowers fade, flowers fly, filling the sky, who will pity them when their red fades and their fragrance is gone?' Which of her poems do you like, Sister Lili?"

Ma Lili, who was only planning to talk about the lives of Daiyu and the girls in the backyard of the Jia family, was stunned when she didn't expect the other party to ask her to recite a poem right away.

Xia Chuan looked at her with a smile, wanting to know his beloved's preferences.

Ma Lili chuckled and said, "Lin Daiyu wrote so many poems, and I like them all... I don't know which one to mention."

"That's true. It's okay to write down one or two, but it's really not easy to write down all of them." Xia Mian said with a smile.

"I like to read Romance of the Three Kingdoms the most. Since you are so smart, you should like it too, right?"

"Zhuge Liang was incredible! Before he died, he even predicted Wei Yan's rebellion and ordered that guy called Ma, Ma or something to kill him..."

"Sister, that person has the same last name as you. I'm confused. What's his name, Ma?"

Ma Lili forced a smile and said, "There are too many people in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I don't remember it clearly, and I don't really like watching fighting and killing."

"Oh," Xia Mian said with disappointment, "Then Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms are all about fighting and killing. We have nothing to talk about."

Li Fang and Hong Juan couldn't help laughing.

When she was asked about the four great classics, it turned out that she had only read one and only superficially. I don't know where she got the confidence to think she was so knowledgeable.

Ma Lili's expression paled a little as she asked Xia Mian, "What year of high school are you in? Aren't you busy with your studies? Do you still have time to read so many books?"

"Oh, I really didn't have much free time in high school. I read these in junior high school." Xia Mian said, "In high school, at most I read shorter foreign classics like Jane Eyre. They were useful for learning English."

Ma Lili finally ran out of things to talk about and returned to her usual routine. "I see you seem to be taking your studies quite easy. What year are you in now? How are your grades? Are you planning on taking the college entrance exam?"

Xia Chuan didn't notice his beloved's pride being hurt. He just felt that Xia Mian really made him proud. He boasted proudly, "Our Mian Mian is in her third year of high school. She attends the High School Affiliated to Yanda University, one of the best high schools in Yan City. She always ranks first in the school. Maybe she will be a student of Yanda Huada University next year."

"The best school," Ma Lili said enviously, "Did that rich guy arrange for you to get in?"

"You really should get first place in the exam. Studying is the only way out for people like us. If I could have an opportunity like you, Xia Mian, I would cherish it with all my heart."

Ma Lili said melancholy, "If I hadn't been born into the Ma family, even if it was just an ordinary family that allowed me to study hard, I would have been able to get into a good university."

She said this with great arrogance, without even saying the word "maybe". She seriously believed that as long as she had the conditions, she would be able to get into a good university.

Xia Chuan immediately agreed, "Of course you can. You're so smart. Don't you always get first place in the medical school?"

Ma Lili sighed, "What's so great about being number one in a medical school? They're just girls trying to find a job quickly. Anyone with a high school education can get in."

Xia Mian said innocently, "Sister, you are already in high school, why didn't you get into college?"

Ma Lili froze for a moment, then said sadly, "There's nothing I can do. When they were in high school, their whole family carefully supported them. When I was in high school, I had to help with housework every day after school and on holidays. Otherwise, my parents wouldn't even let me go to high school."

“So, sometimes it really is fate.”

"Are there many rich people in your school? Are they all very casual in their studies?"

Xia Mian said, "The children of wealthy families also work hard. They are all students, and there is no distinction between rich and poor in terms of academic performance."

Ma Lili immediately said, "That's right. Children from wealthy families probably spend more on tutoring than on tuition. They should at least make up for it."

Anyway, other people's success is due to good fortune, good luck and good conditions; her failure is all due to the Ma family holding her back.

Xia Mian was too lazy to even tease her. This girl had a very problematic idea.

Xia Chuan, with his lover's filter, felt that his sweetheart was excellent in every way.

However, it was useless for him to use a filter. The matchmaking that day was not successful. Not only did the Ma family ask for an outrageous dowry, they also asked for Ma Wenwu to be taken to Yan City and find him an office job.

Of course, Uncle Xia could not agree and refused immediately, and the two families naturally parted ways unhappily.

However, Xia Chuan and Ma Lili seem to have not given up, and they have been communicating privately.

Especially Ma Lili, for some reason she had a quarrel with Xia Mian. Whenever she had time she would come to talk to her, emphasizing her own ability while at the same time pulling down Xia Mian, as if only by stepping down Xia Mian could she highlight her excellence.

Xia Mian has become numb to the word "lucky".

"If I have the opportunity to go to Yan City, I will definitely be able to establish myself there."

"They said it was difficult to get into the county hospital, but I didn't find that difficult at all. I got in easily."

"You're lucky. It's a pity that I don't even have the chance to go out. Even if gold shines, who can see it if it's buried in the soil?"

Xia Mian could understand her reluctance to accept her fate, but she really couldn't approve of the negative energy of attributing all injustices to fate.

After that, whenever Ma Lili got off work, she would hide out and take Xiaofeng and Qiangqiang to the stream to learn swimming.

As a result, I met Ma Wenwu again. No, it can’t be said that I met him, because the other party was specially recruited for me.

"Xia Mian, why are you here? It took me so long to find you." Ma Wenwu ran over excitedly.

Objectively speaking, Ma Wenwu is not bad looking, but the way he is spoiled unconditionally by his parents and becomes ignorant of the world is very disgusting.

It's as if everyone in the world is his mother, and whatever he says in this world should be the truth.

"By the way, when are you planning on returning to Yan City? I'll see you off then."

"Who are you?" Xia Mian rolled her eyes. "Do I know you? Stay away from me."

"Xia Mian, you're really humorous," Ma Wenwu walked over with a playful smile, "I'll go to Yan City to find you when my sister and your brother get married."

"Although I'm not a good student, it's just because I don't want to learn. I have a very quick brain and learn things very quickly. I have no problem working in an office."

The way he talks to himself and is so conceited, he and Ma Lili are worthy of being siblings.

It seems that the Ma family has not given up yet, or they are very confident in Ma Lili?

There is no need to consider Uncle Xia's face. Xia Mian's method of dealing with this kind of flies is still simple and crude: just hit them.

She bent down and picked up a handful of stones from the stream.

Ma Wenwu was completely unaware and said with a smile, "I really like you...ah!"

He covered his nose in surprise and said in a muffled voice, "Xia Mian, what are you doing?"

Xia Mian tossed a stone up and down and said, "Do you want to get out of here on your own, or do you want me to beat you out of here?"

"You, you're bleeding from your nose..." Ma Wenwu screamed in horror, pointing at Xia Mian, "You, you actually dared to hit me."

Xia Mian threw another stone, hitting him on the shoulder. "I'm going to hit you. If you dare to come close, I'll hit you every time I see you. Get out of here!"

Ma Wenwu covered his shoulder again and again. Seeing that Xia Mian was serious, he didn't dare to pester her anymore. He turned around and ran away, not forgetting to say harshly, "Just wait for me!"

Xia Mian threw a stone, hitting him all over the head and back, "Come on if you're not afraid of death, you stinky fly!"

After driving Ma Wenwu away, Xia Mian decided to go back and ask Uncle Xia. Ma Wenwu was so confident, maybe the Ma family was hiding some tricks, so he had to be on guard.

But she solved the case just halfway through her journey.

Yes, they are just ordinary people. What tricks can they use? They can only take advantage of Xia Chuan's love for Ma Lili.

When Xia Mian took a shortcut, she happened to come across the quarrel between the two. Although eavesdropping was not polite, since this matter involved her, Xia Mian hid behind the earth wall without hesitation.

"...As long as I agree to take Ma Wenwu to Yan City, my parents will agree to lower their limit on the betrothal gift."

"That's impossible. We all know what your parents are planning. Mianmian is going to take the college entrance exam, and we will never let Ma Wenwu disturb her. Besides, your brother is like that. I'm not saying..." Xia Chuan's face was full of contempt.

Ma Lili's face looked unhappy. "Don't worry, I know Ma Wenwu. If we really get to Yan City, I will definitely be able to control him and won't let him cause trouble for Xia Mian. I'll just deceive my parents first."

Xia Chuan frowned, "What do you mean you can control him? We are so far away from the emperor, how can we control him?"

Ma Lili said as a matter of course, "Of course we should go to Yan City together. Otherwise, even if we get married here, we can't escape the control of my parents. They will definitely make us feel uneasy."

"If we go to Yan City, they won't be able to reach us. Don't you want to go out and try your luck?"

"By then we can find a job in Yan City and take care of Xia Mian and Xiao Feng."

"No!" Xia Chuan refused categorically, "My parents will never agree to this."

"Xia Mian and Xiao Feng are already living under someone else's roof in Yan City, so why are we asking for money? Isn't this hindering her?"

"Who said we were taking advantage of her?!" Ma Lili said angrily, "You don't think I'm going to rely on her to find a job, do you?"

Ma Lili angrily said, "I was ranked first every year in the medical school. It was easy for me to get into the county hospital. Even though Yan City is a big city, I am sure I can get into a good hospital. Do I need to rely on summer sleep?"

"Do you really look down on me in your heart?"

Xia Chuan quickly apologized, "No, Lily, it's not that easy to find a job outside. So we went to Yan City, where would we stay?"

"Can't we rent a house?" Ma Lili asked, "Is renting a house so difficult? Could it be that living in Yan City is hindering Xia Mian's progress?"

"You didn't even ask, so how do you know Xia Mian doesn't want to?" Ma Lili said, "Didn't you say she's living under someone else's roof? You don't know how hard it must be for her. You have such a good relationship with her, she might just be happy to have her family around."

"If she's worried about Ma Wenwu, tell her not to worry. Not only can I keep him under control, but if I get tired of him, I can send him back in a few months. We can all live a good life in Yan City."

Xia Mian found it funny. She didn't know whether this girl was really naive or just pretending to be confident. If they really arrived in Yan City and had no jobs or place to live, would Xia Mian just watch them sleep on the streets?

What's the difference between this scheme and those of Ma's parents?

Fortunately, Xia Chuan's IQ hadn't dropped to zero, and he still refused, "Don't even think about it. I'll discuss the betrothal gift with my parents. Don't worry, I will definitely marry you."

"I'm not worried about Ma Wenwu either," Xia Chuan said with a smile, as if wanting to talk about something lighthearted to ease the tense atmosphere. "Mianmian may look pretty, but she's incredibly powerful. Ten Ma Wenwus wouldn't be enough for her to handle."

"My dad said that our generation really depends on Mian Mian."

However, as soon as these words came out, it was like stirring up a hornet's nest. Ma Lili's tone suddenly rose, "Yes, your cousin is the best!"

"She is a celestial being descended from heaven, no one is worthy of her!"

"Why, isn't she from our small county town too? How is she superior to others?"

"Isn't it just luck that I saved a rich man? Who wouldn't help someone in that situation? If I encountered that situation, I would also stand up for him, okay?"

"If I had lost my parents like her and had no one to hold me back, I would definitely be a better person than her now!"

Xia Chuan's face flushed red and he said angrily, "Lily, do you know what you are talking about?!"

"What? What did I say wrong?" Ma Lili said angrily, "Yes, I'm not that lucky, but I just don't want to accept my fate. I want to fight for it. Am I wrong?"

"Since you look down on me and you are willing to accept the status quo, then let's forget it. We are not the same kind of people." After saying that, he turned and ran away.